Customer Reviews

Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. If you are looking for a thick theological book, this is not it. Hybels does use scripture throughout, but this is more of an inspirational writing. He uses his own personal story, the stories of well known leaders (Mother Teresa, Bono, Martin Luther King Jr...), and the lives of a few people from the Bible.

Although this book is relevant to people of any age, I would highly urge high school seniors and college students to read this book. I purchased two additional copies to give to people like this in my life.

If you are looking for a push to take a step out and fulfill the thing you know you were created to do or you are looking for direction in finding that thing you were created for - this is a MUST READ! I will always look back on this book as a milestone in my journey of fulfilling God's leading in my life.

The power of this book is again what we've come to expect from Bill Hybels. It is a powerful, easily communicated idea that motivates ministry. The idea is that there is in the life of every person some burning passion that fuels one's desire to change the world. With the urgency that typifies Hybels writing, speaking, and ministry, he seeks to motivate people into ministry by urging us to discover and develop our holy discontent with those things that most need changing.

Hybels uses the line from the Popeye cartoon to communicate the concept: "I've had alls I can stand, and I can't stands no more!" There is in any given person's life something that makes them desire change. For Hybels, he could not stand stale churches that failed to communicate the gospel effectively. We are not wholly content in this world, because this world is not yet what God wants it to be. By stoking our own awareness of and frustration with that given problem that most gets under our skin, we can find our calling and build a ministry. The book would be a good motivator for churches looking for ways to encourage volunteerism.

There are two significant weaknesses to the book. First, after explaining the cleverly-termed concept, the rest of the book is a series of fairly pat illustrations, including the overused examples of Billy Graham and Mother Theresa. The string of people who found and followed a holy discontent is not surprising, which might have been remedied by more detailed research and more personal illustrations. Secondly, at a more profound level, Hybels never tells us exactly why calling should be based on a negative reaction to the world rather than a positive expression of love or the use of one's spiritual gifts. In fact, the whole sense that calling springs from complaint seems to be a limited explanation for calling, making one facet of calling the whole story. He describes David being motivated by his anger towards Goliath, but the book wouldn't be able to account for instances like Jonah being called against his will or Zacchaeus being called by Jesus' love and acceptance.

It's a pragmatic book that would be a worthwhile motivator for congregations. It only lacks a more thorough exploration of how God motivates us to the places where he wants us, but that is not a fatal flaw.

James W. Miller is the author of God Scent.

Having read and enjoyed many books from a great man like Bill Hybels, it is difficult for me to give this one only four stars. I love the concept of "holy discontent," and truly feel God is revealing something to him that makes strong Christian leaders tick. The problem is that what he writes has the tone of a self-help, man-centered essay. The sections of this book have headings such as "Where to find your holy discontent," "How to develop your holy discontent," and "The key to keeping your holy discontent alive."

I believe this title can be a great source of help for Christians, particularly Christian leaders, in understanding what God may be stirring in their hearts and minds. The important thing to remember is that it is God who is revealing the discontent, God who is developing it, and God who is keeping it alive. It's all about Him, His glory and how he is using individuals to bring greater glory to His name. Understanding those things, get this book and allow God to open your eyes to what He is doing in your heart and mind.

"Holy Discontent" didn't turn out to be what I was hoping for. It was well written, Bill Hybels made some very good points, and it's not a book that you should bypass if it catches your interest. But...

I didn't come away from this book knowing anything I didn't before I picked it up. I was not excited about going out and doing anything about my holy discontent.

My main complaint with this book is that I already knew what my "holy discontent" was before I bought the book, and it didn't encourage me that I was doing the right thing, and it sure didn't help point me in any directions with where to go with my discontentment.

The other issue that I had with this book was that it didn't seem like a "Christian" or "Churchy" book. It's something that anybody off the streets can pick up and use as life or businness advice, but it doesn't talk about using holy discontent to glorify God or grow the church the way that I was looking for it to.

I was disappointed with "Holy Discontent", but I have already reccommended it to a friend who I think will get a great deal out of it. So think about what you want from this book before you buy it. If it's just to do good but you're not sure what your niche is, go ahead and give it a shot. If you're looking for a way to get your congregation itching to storm the world for Jesus, turn elsewhere.

Is there something that frustrates you? An injustice in this world that you cannot stand? If so, there is a way to turn that discontent into a holy passion that can change the world. At least that's the idea behind Bill Hybels' book Holy Discontent.

The book draws on personal experiences from Hybels' life, examples of people who have followed their discontent, and various other anecdotes to illustrate the author's point. Hybels gives steps to follow, like most books of this genre, which at times doesn't help because the steps don't fit neatly into his theory. There are some inspiring stories in the book, though, and I feel as if Hybels would have benefited from drawing more of his material from them.

There is a little bit of substance, but not much. Hybels has some pretty insightful comments about fear, frustration, and action, though those small nuggets of wisdom are too sporadic to warrant purchasing this book. The premise of this book is good. I just feel that Hybels failed to deliver.

Bill Hybels is not C.S. Lewis, Donald Miller, or Richard Foster when it comes to writing in ways that take you to unexplored areas of thought. But he does make me think.

"Why do people do what they do?" is the motivation behind Holy Discontent, Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision. That's my kind of question. He offers some amazing stories of individuals who have devoted their lives to a cause. Then he brings it around to look at our own lives in a way that says "why aren't you doing something?"

I recommend this book for all those out there who can't figure out your passion; what it is that would bring true meaning and purpose to your life. Pick it up, read through it in a few hours then spend days pondering the significance of Hybels perspective of those things which you just "can't stands no more." It just might change your life - and maybe even the world - forever.

Have read this book 3 times and I continue to come back to it. This book has helped me to understand what God wants me to in life. IT has helped me to find peace in that choice and it has helped me to speak to other people about Theyr'e Holy Discontent.
No matter what you think about "The Author" or "Seeker Friendly CHurches" this book is AWESOME and AMAZING and I would suggest all people to read it.

Just as Bill Hybels was challenged in writing this book, you will be challenge in reading it. You will have to consider what truly motivates you and how your willingness to surrender it to the Lord can be used for His glory.

HOLY Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision is a quick read that makes large bounds upon the readers soul. Hybels contends that we all have a HOLY discontent that raises up the Popeye response of "That's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!" Whether that be the homeless in your town, the AIDS/HIV epidemic, a lackluster local church, the elderly who are commonly ignored, or even your own marriage which may be starving to death; we all have a HOLY Discontent that we "can't stands no more!"

Read the rest of my review along with other books that I read in a week at

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Happy Reading!

I go to Liberty University, a Christian college and I had to read this book for my leadership team. I thought the book was very insightful in helping to realize my holy discontent but, I felt the book was poorly written. I felt the author became redundant throughout the text. It is possible that you may like the book a lot more than I did but, I was not appreciative of his writing style.